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Friends of Music

The Friends of Music mission is to promote excellence for the UL Lafayette School of Music and Performing Arts through scholarships and competition awards.

The sole purpose of the Friends of Music Acadiana is to offer financial assistance to talented UL Lafayette music students in the form of scholarships and performance competition awards. The scholarships offered by the Friends of Music Acadiana allow many of our most talented music students to continue their studies. The prospect of these scholarships also creates an added incentive for the finest high school seniors to choose our excellent program over other worthy options.

Prospective Music Students

Music Student/Alumni Accomplishments

Virginia Hesse earned a BM in vocal performance in 2015. She is currently attending graduate school at the University of Houston, and in her first semester was cast as a leading soprano in Puccini's La Rondine and the new production of Anna Karenina.

"The diligence and encouragement of my instructors at the University of Louisiana made all the difference in my preparation for a post graduate program in Vocal Performance. If music is your passion, seek out the quality teaching of our professors at UL!"

Alex Hollerman graduated with a BM in Vocal Performance and went on to earn a master's degree at LSU, where she had leading roles in several opera productions. As part of the Promising Artists of the 21st Century she performed the role of Dinah from Trouble in Tahiti with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Heredia.

"UL Lafayette was just what I needed when I was a still-wet-behind-the-ears 18 year old. All I knew when I entered UL Lafayette was that I had this unquestionable love for music. I didn't know how to hone it or how to creatively channel it. I met some of my best friends and some of the best mentors at UL Lafayette."

Abigail Seguin earned a Masters in Music Theory/Composition in 2014 and is now a Ph.D. student at the University of Cincinnati.

"By having such a clear research focus and a solid foundation of work to build upon I entered my doctoral studies without any of the anxiety that comes with defining my research focus. The faculty and resources at the School of Music also provided crucial personal and professional support throughout my time there."

Roldon Brown completed a Bachelor of Music in flute performance in 2008 and is now Principal Flutist (Soloflötist) of the Jordanian National Orchestra.

"The curriculum is only the beginning. Not only was I taught music, but I was taught how to problem solve with creativity, how to stand up for my ideas, and how to think outside the box. When any obstacle arises, I think back to the lessons from my UL Lafayette days, and I quickly remember, that everything I need...is already in me!"

Julie Sabo completed a Masters in Flute Performance in 2014 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Shenandoah Conservatory.

"Moving across the country to Lafayette wasn't in my original education plan, but I am so thankful that I chose to attend UL…The Graduate Assistantship program was a gift beyond measure and funded the entirety of my graduate degree and allowed me to begin my teaching career at the university level. This experience was undoubtedly what set me apart from other candidates in my auditions for doctoral school and consideration for a teaching assistantship."

Tessa Espinosa received a BA in Vocal Music Education in 2013. She went on to earn her MM in voice performance from the University of Northern Colorado in 2015 and was accepted into the doctoral program there in voice performance.

"Thanks to the teachers at ULL I passed the theory entrance exam at UNC with flying colors, tested out of Vocal Pedagogy and did not have to take any remedial courses, enabling me to finish my MM easily in two years. Most importantly I found confidence in my voice at ULL. Because of my classroom instructors and my wonderful voice teacher I went into graduate school with a solid foundation in singing and performing."

Everson Martin earned a Masters in Music Education and is now an Instructor of Music and Assistant Band Director at Alcorn State University.

"The University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate program in music has helped me tremendously in my career. The instruction from the faculty and guidance I received have been very vital to the way I teach and inspire my students at Alcorn State University. I'm forever grateful to the university and the department. Thank you!"

Steve Kerin earned the BM in Piano Performance in 1998. Although trained at UL Lafayette as a classical pianist, Steve now specializes in Blues and New Orleans styles. You can hear his music on iTunes.

"The music professors at UL were always encouraging and helpful, working with me to fine tune my skills as a performer. The technique and theory that I learned in the UL music department helped to give me the confidence and ability to excel as a musician."

Andrew Sigler earned the BM in Theory/Composition and the MM in Guitar Performance (1998) from UL Lafayette (then USL). A prizewinning composer, he is Lecturer of Composition at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he directs the composition program and teaches audio recording, theory, and orchestration.

"The best part about my time about UL was the freedom to pursue music as I saw fit. Often when talking with friends from other institutions about curating concerts or career development, they've commented that their proscribed curricula never allowed them to do precisely what they liked. The realization that I could write my own ticket is something I carry with me today."

Mariella Fiordaliso earned a BM in Piano Performance in 1997. She lives in Toulouse, France where she performs chamber music throughout Europe.

"I feel particularly blessed because I had the chance to win a scholarship at the Ibla Piano Competition in Italy to study with Drs. Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho. These two marvelous pianists and pedagogues helped me to acquire a deeper consciousness about playing the piano and more confidence in myself."

Jeremy Coleman, MM, MT-BC completed a BM in classical guitar performance at UL Lafayette and went on to do graduate studies in music therapy at Sam Houston State and UT Austin. Jeremy is currently a full-time music educator and guitar teacher for students with visual impairments.

My job as a music educator for students with visual impairments allows me to create beauty for children who cannot perceive the world visually. I owe this my time at the UL Lafayette School of Music. The education I received at UL Lafayette turned me into a professional musician and teacher. The faculty took a personal interest in my musical development and provided me several real-life contexts that allowed me to focus on beautiful, expressive music-making. In this last 10 years there isn’t a day that has gone by that I don’t use the skills I have learned.